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Actually, even then it wasn't correct. When AC welding, you are still using two hots from the secondary side of a transformer.

I'll have to research to find out why "ground" became a common term, probably just because it was a clamp instead of what you held to do the job with.

Mac, let us know when you find out. I've notice around here everyone still calls it a ground. I was out at a large fabrication shop a few minutes ago buying a few small pieces of flats and while i was there one of the guys was installing a new work clamp and i said to him what you up to and he said "Installing a new ground clamp" *LOL* I wanted to take a survey while there but they looked way to busy and the owner probably wouldn't have appreciated me bothering them. In your part of the country do you hear very many call them ground clamps?
Thanks, Farris

In your part of the country do you hear very many call them ground clamps?

Oh yeah. And I've been known to slip myself when around others who call it that, because I was taught "ground" by my dad, too. But check your owner's manuals or current text books. They probably stopped using the misnomer, if they ever did.

I'd be interested in hearing about any books that DO use the misnomer, just out of curiosity. My Miller/Hobart manuals all say "work clamp." Just checked...

"weldor" used to be the common term, but has actually started disappearing in textbooks and even some dictionaries, part of the dummying down of the English language and society in general.

Look at the much more common word "operator." It would be a lot harder to convince everyone to start using "operater," wouldn't it? They mostly got away with it with "weldor," though.

A lot of books have switched entirely to the term "welding machine operator" to avoid the issue; chickens.

In general history of the English language, an "-er" was a machine, and an "-or" was a person, both of which did the same thing, in this case a welder (machine) and a weldor (person) both weld (verb.)

It had been determined by society that the English language is too difficult. This is the same society that endorses welfare and subsidizing. Enjoy your heritage!

EDIT: Interesting trivia: During the heyday of collect calling, AT&T got this great idea to compete with 1-800-COLLECT by using 1-800-OPERATOR. Well, someone else got the even better idea to register the number 1-800-OPERATER and they made millions by all the people thinking they were using AT&T, but had misspelled "operator."

Safety First

My simple answer is **** NO, you are not following safe welding practices. If you are welding in anything less then a 6'X6' non-combustible surface (including surrounding areas) you are looking to start a fire. Buy some heavy duty welding blankets ($70/each) and protect yourself.